How to avoid using ISP DNS?

[florid]

I have been using Asus merlin firmware couple months, still new.
I am trying to understand how I can manually set ASUS router to use 8.8.8.8 as upstream DNS server for example?
In the LAN-DHCP Server setting, i can define dns server 1 and 2. But for my understanding, this field is for client DNS, not for the router DNS. I only want all clients to use router 192.168.1.1 as DNS server. So I leave DNS 1 and 2 blank, 'Advertise router's IP in addition to user-specified DNS'-Yes, 'Forward local domain queries to upstream DNS'-No.
I also enabled custom DNS according to the wiki so that all clients can follow the dnsmasq.add config.

Dnsmasq reads /tmp/resolv.conf and /tmp/resolv.dnsmasq as nameserver settings. I assume /tmp/resolv.conf is retrieved from WAN ISP DNS. The syslog also shows 'dnsmasq[444]: using nameserver 61.x.x.x#53'.

So my question is, how and where can I set Google DNS 8.8.8.8 to replace ISP DNS entries? Edit dnsmasq.add will replace ISP nameservers or just append one entry to nameserver list?
Thanks.

 

[AndreiV]

Enter your choice of DNS in the WAN > DNS Settings, that is what your router will as it says "contact to ".

In LAN settings you can enter the same DNS settings and your devices will resolve from those servers. To use the router as your DNS server you leave the fields blank.

 

[Martineau]

I have been using Asus merlin firmware couple months, still new.
I am trying to understand how I can manually set ASUS router to use 8.8.8.8 as upstream DNS server for example?
In the LAN-DHCP Server setting, i can define dns server 1 and 2. But for my understanding, this field is for client DNS, not for the router DNS. I only want all clients to use router 192.168.1.1 as DNS server. So I leave DNS 1 and 2 blank, 'Advertise router's IP in addition to user-specified DNS'-Yes, 'Forward local domain queries to upstream DNS'-No.
I also enabled custom DNS according to the wiki so that all clients can follow the dnsmasq.add config.

Dnsmasq reads /tmp/resolv.conf and /tmp/resolv.dnsmasq as nameserver settings. I assume /tmp/resolv.conf is retrieved from WAN ISP DNS. The syslog also shows 'dnsmasq[444]: using nameserver 61.x.x.x#53'.

So my question is, how and where can I set Google DNS 8.8.8.8 to replace ISP DNS entries? Edit dnsmasq.add will replace ISP nameservers or just append one entry to nameserver list?
Thanks.

Try setting it on the WAN page??

Can you see the secret setting?

 

[florid]

Thanks for all your promptly response.
Haven't noticed this 'secret' setting, need to change 'connect to DNS server automatically' from Yes to No.
Thanks a lot.

 

[Martineau]

Thanks for all your promptly response.
Haven't noticed this 'secret' setting, need to change 'connect to DNS server automatically' from Yes to No.
Thanks a lot.

Yes it is definitely not user friendly...lots of posts simply say 'Change it on the WAN page' and users still get frustrated!

No idea why they can't change the text to something more helpful perhaps ''Use ISP DNS servers (Click No to set custom)'

 

[AndreiV]

Yes it is definitely not user friendly...lots of posts to simply say 'Change it on the WAN page' and users still get frustrated!

No idea why they can't change the text to something more helpful perhaps ''Use ISP DNS servers (Click No to set custom)'

It's as bad as the appalling misuse of "Enable / disable " all through the GUI.